Anyone can read about SEO strategies and best practices for higher education. But what really helps us understand what works is seeing the actual challenges universities face and how they overcome them. That’s why we’re sharing three detailed case studies that take you behind the scenes of successful higher education SEO campaigns.
We’ll walk through how we helped a top 3 Ivy League institution improve their program pages’ visibility, how we recovered a university’s traffic after a challenging website redesign, and how we used strategic content to grow another institution’s organic traffic by over 600%. Each case offers unique insights into what it takes to achieve meaningful results in higher education SEO.
#1 Program Page SEO for a Leading Ivy League School
Client Overview
Working with one of the world’s most prestigious universities presented an interesting challenge. Despite their renowned academic reputation, their program pages weren’t performing as well as they could in search results. For prospective students searching for graduate programs online, finding this institution’s offerings was surprisingly difficult.
The Challenge
The core issue was straightforward but significant: their program pages had low visibility for the key search terms prospective students were using. While the institution’s brand carried tremendous weight, they were missing out on connecting with potential students who were searching for programs without using the university’s name.
Our Approach
We developed a focused strategy to address this visibility gap:
- Created detailed optimization recommendations for 20 distinct programs
- Implemented comprehensive tracking to monitor ranking improvements
- Worked closely with their team to execute changes effectively
- Prioritized increasing visibility for non-branded, program-related keywords
The Results
The improvements were substantial across multiple programs.
Computer Science Ph.D. Program:
- Achieved a 17,025% increase in non-brand clicks
- Secured top rankings for essential terms like “phd in computer science,” “computer science phd programs,” and “cs phd”
Electrical Engineering Ph.D. Program:
- Went from zero to significant non-brand organic traffic
- Now ranks for key terms like “phd in electrical engineering,” “electrical engineering phd,” and “ee phd”
Applied Mathematics Programs:
- Ph.D. program saw 870% increase in non-brand clicks
- Undergraduate program achieved 856% increase in non-brand clicks
- Ranks well for “applied math phd,” “applied mathematics degree,” and “applied math major”
Bioengineering Undergraduate Program:
- Realized 577.77% increase in non-brand clicks
- Strong rankings for “bioengineering degree” and “biomedical engineering bachelor degree”
#2 UOTP’s Recovery After a Challenging Website Redesign
Client Overview
The University of the Potomac (UOTP) operates campuses in Washington DC, Virginia, and Chicago. When they came to us, they were seeing around 9,000 organic sessions monthly – a number significantly impacted by a recent website redesign that had created several technical issues.
The Challenge
The situation required immediate attention because:
- Organic traffic had dropped 70% during the crucial fall semester period
- The site’s URL structure had undergone two changes in six months
- Internal links were incorrectly configured, all pointing to the homepage
- Page load times were problematic at 9.9 seconds for first-time visitors
- They had accumulated potentially harmful backlinks from low-quality sites
Our Approach
We implemented a comprehensive strategy focusing on three key areas:
Technical SEO Improvements:
- Developed and implemented proper 301 redirect mapping
- Corrected internal linking structure
- Reduced page load time from 10 seconds to approximately 3 seconds
- Enhanced server performance and implemented CDN
Content Strategy:
- Performed thorough content audit
- Identified high-potential content for optimization
- Implemented Topic Clusters model
- Created strategic content calendar
Link Building:
- Used existing partnerships effectively
- Conducted successful outreach campaigns
- Built an average of 10 new quality links monthly
The Results
The improvement was clear and measurable:
- Organic traffic grew by 447% (from 9,000 to over 50,000 monthly sessions)
- Organic leads increased by 1,423%
- Monthly traffic value rose from under $30,000 to over $155,000
#3 OLLU’s Journey to 100K+ Monthly Organic Visitors
Client Overview
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU), founded in 1895, came to us with clear goals: they wanted to triple their organic traffic from 12,000 to 36,000 monthly visitors within a year. What they achieved went well beyond these initial targets.
The Challenge
Several key issues needed addressing:
- Limited informational content for main programs
- Missing opportunities for top-of-funnel traffic
- Competitors were already attracting 300,000+ monthly visitors through content
- Program pages needed structural improvements
Our Approach
We developed a strategic plan with three main components:
Technical Optimization:
- Improved breadcrumb link structure
- Enhanced internal linking to program pages
- Optimized sitemap organization
- Cleaned up non-indexable URLs
Content Development:
- Created and launched a comprehensive blog strategy
- Produced 111 informational blog posts over 7 months
- Focused on answering common student questions
- Integrated strategic CTAs for better conversion
Program Page Enhancement:
- Added vital information sections:
- Degree benefits
- Career opportunities
- FAQs
- Program differentiators
The Results
The outcomes exceeded all expectations:
- Achieved 600% growth in organic traffic (12,000 to 110,000 monthly visitors)
- Secured valuable rankings:
- #1 for “doctorate in psychology” (2,500 monthly searches)
- #3 for “psyd degree” (1,400 monthly searches)
- #7 for “msw” (16,000 monthly searches)
Key Insights
These case studies demonstrate that significant improvements in higher education SEO come from:
- Addressing technical fundamentals properly
- Creating valuable content that serves student needs
- Balancing quick wins with long-term growth strategies
- Using comprehensive tracking to measure and improve results
Most importantly, success comes from developing strategies that fit each institution’s unique situation, challenges, and goals. Whether you’re looking to recover lost traffic, improve program visibility, or build sustainable organic growth, the key is having a clear understanding of your current position and a well-executed plan to reach your goals.
Interested in exploring how we can help your institution achieve similar results? Let’s discuss your specific challenges and objectives.
